Igor Stravinsky’s only full-length opera “The Rake’s Progress” celebrated Thursday Night at the Dutch National Opera a widely acclaimed premier. Both singers as well as musicians and – rarely at the DNO – director and designer shared the approbation.

It was dead silent in the hall when tenor Paul Appleby as Tom and Julia Bullock as Anne Truelove sang the poetic texts of the librettists Wysten Hugh Auden and Chester Kalman in a sweet pianissimo. A fairytale sound raise from the orchestra pit (with a wonderfully played solo for English horn), played by the Nederlands Kamerorkest conducted by Ivor Bolton. A scene so touchingly beautifully played it will forever be remembered.”

As dryly and directly played the Nederlands Kamerorkest under the musical direction of Ivor Bolton. All the musical references to Händel, Mozart and Gluck, which Stravinsky hid in his score, Bolton showed with taste. Maybe a little too cool, but that is what Stravinsky wanted. The great, hilarious scenes full of rushing and busy people Bolton had firmly under control. No syncope or stumbling rhythm slipped him.”